Message from the Principal

Well done to all of our fabulous students on completing Semester 1! Particularly to all of our new students who are now well embedded in our school community. It's always wonderful to hear from community members about how well Preston High School students exemplify our values of excellence, inclusion and community as they get about in the local area being great young people.

There are a number of exciting building projects coming up around the school over the next 6-12 months - Resurfacing the outdoor basketball courts, re-turfing some of the field areas, and a major project to install additional sports courts on the Gower-Cooma St corner. These projects will all impact on availability of space in the yard for short periods of time but will result in much improved amenities for students. There is also one more exciting bit of news about our school facilities, but the School Council can't share it with you yet, so we can build some anticipation while we wait for that announcement!

At the end of this year, we will be welcoming another 248 Grade 6 students from our school zone who are mid-way through their placement processes with their primary schools. This will mean that the school total population will grow to about 1,375 students and the State Government will allocate additional classroom spaces. As our smallest Cohorts graduate, we anticipate that our rapid growth will slow, and the total population will stabilise from 2027. 

This term we farewell: 

• Ella Fusca, who families will know as our school nurse, who is off to the Northern Territory.
• Mallory Backstrom, who families will know from Reception, who is off to Queensland.
• Jessey Lisiecki, from the education support team who is off on a new adventure.
• Rachel Baxendale, who is moving to an Art-linked role in a new school.

There are also staff taking leave in Term 3 who will be back in Term 4 or in 2026. 

In Term 3, we will be welcoming:

• Stepanie Lewis, as a new Leading Teacher and philosophy, psychology, science and humanities teacher. Stephanie joins us from a role as the Senior Wellbeing and Engagement Officer for the South-East Victoria Region. 
• Darren Murray, as a new Health and PE teacher. Darren joins us from Regional Victoria and was previously an Assistant Principal in the eastern suburbs. 
• Komal Soni, as our new reception and admin team member. After a career in finance, Komal joins us from a school in the west.
• Amy Arnett, as our new school nurse, who joins use from a school in the east after a career in hospital settings. 
• Lauren Gemming, as a new Humanities and English teacher. Lauren joins us from a school in the north. 
• Merita Lozanovski as a new education support team member. 
• We will also be welcoming back from leave: Grace Steele, Joel Meadows and Laura McConville. Hannah Gridley and Liz Barnes will also be continuing with us into Semester 2.

Earlier this term, since our last newsletter, we have also welcomed:

• Tim Lee as a new Student Counsellor
• Elissa Agostino as a new Youth Worker
• Xiaoqi Chen as a Chinese Language Assistant

Wishing all of our students a safe and happy break, filled with homework, study and other good times!

Sean Butler

Principal